Saudi Arabia locks in January dates for 2027 Asian Cup despite regional attacks

The Asian Football Confederation confirmed on Monday that the 2027 Asian Cup will begin on January 7, 2027, in Riyadh. This decision holds the schedule steady despite ongoing military strikes and regional instability that have led other major events to relocate or delay.

The 29-day competition will feature 51 matches across eight venues. Five of these stadiums are located in Riyadh, two in Jeddah, and one in Al-Khobar. The King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, which seats 72,000, will host both the opening match and the final on February 5. The group stage runs until January 20, with knockout rounds starting on January 22.

Hosts Saudi Arabia will open the tournament against Palestine in a Group A fixture. Defending champions Qatar will face Thailand on January 11. Japan will play Indonesia on the same date, while South Korea faces Yemen, Australia plays Singapore, and Iran takes on China in their respective opening matches.

Security concerns prompted scrutiny from several national federations. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the Japan Football Association, stated that the current situation makes hosting difficult. “Based on what I’ve learned from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don’t think it would be easy to hold the [Asian] Cup there,” Miyamoto said. He added that Saudi officials told him their top priority is the safety of players, fans, and attendees.

Recent events have intensified these worries. The Dakar Rally organizers announced on Monday that the 2027 edition will move out of Saudi Arabia due to recent regional developments. A barrage of projectiles from Yemen targeted cities across the kingdom on Sunday. The Saudi Civil Defence reported that shrapnel from two intercepted ballistic missiles fell in Jeddah, Taif, Rabigh, and Wadi Al-Mughammas.

International flights from King Khalid International Airport resumed from Terminal 2 on Sunday, while Terminal 1 is now designated for domestic travel. This follows a suspension of operations after a strike on October 10 that killed 13 people and wounded hundreds. AFC chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa noted in October that a postponement to 2028 was possible if necessary, but the local organizing committee has maintained the original timeline.

This marks the first time Saudi Arabia hosts the Asian Cup. The event serves as a major test for the kingdom seven years before it stages the 2034 World Cup.